Hiravijaya

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Hiravijaya (1526–1595), also known as Muni Hiravijayji or Hiravijay Suri, was a Jain monk and the head of the Tapa Gaccha order within the Śvetāmbara tradition. He is best remembered for presenting Jain philosophy to Mughal emperor Akbar and helping inspire his move toward vegetarianism.

Early life and monkhood
Hiravijaya was born into an Oswal Jain family in Palanpur, Gujarat. His parents died when he was a baby, and he was raised by his two elder sisters. At 13, in 1540, he became a disciple of Jain monk Vijayadana Suri and was given the name Hiravijay Harsh. He studied at Devagiri, earning the titles Pandit (1550), Upadhyaya (1552), and Suri (1553). He became an Acharya, the head of a Jain congregation, at Sirohi. By 1556 the Śvetāmbara Tapa Gaccha community chose him as their chief, and he led a large group of about 2,000 students.

Influence on Akbar
In 1582, Emperor Akbar invited Hiravijaya to explain the principles of Jainism. After discussions with Akbar and his adviser Abul Fazl, Akbar was so impressed that he honored Hiravijaya with the title Jagatguru (World Teacher). Hiravijaya’s influence contributed to Akbar’s move toward non-violence and vegetarianism; Akbar banned slaughter during Jain festivals, released prisoners, and reduced or removed certain taxes at Jain sites. Historian Vincent Smith noted that Akbar’s actions reflected the influence of Jain teaching. Hiravijaya’s successors continued to be involved in the Mughal court, with visits to Akbar in the late 1590s.

In literature
A Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazl lists Hiravijaya among the 21 most learned people of Akbar’s empire. His disciples wrote Sanskrit poems in his honor in 1590, including Hira Saubhagya Kavya and Jagatguru Kavya.